Let the Games Begin! Hallmark Launches First Reality Competition Series Hosted By *This* Hallmark Hunk
Hallmark is on the hunt for their newest hunk! The network has ordered its first-ever competition series, Finding Mr. Christmas, which will see 10 unknown talents compete for the chance to lead a 2024 Countdown to Christmas movie. Each episode will follow the contestants as they tackle a variety of challenges designed to showcase both their acting abilities and their festive spirit. The series was announced during the 2024 TCA (Television Critics Association) Summer Press Tour, and a first look was released on social media shortly after.
Below, we have everything there is to know about Finding Mr. Christmas, including who will serve as the host and judges, as well as when it will premiere.
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Who is the host of Finding Mr. Christmas?
Hallmark mainstay Jonathan Bennett will be serving as the host of Finding Mr. Christmas. The actor has appeared in over 10 Hallmark movies and has extensive experience hosting. He previously served as a host on several Food Network competition series, including Cupcake Wars, Halloween Wars and Battle of the Decades.
The Christmas House star celebrated his new hosting gig on Instagram, writing alongside a press release: “I can’t believe I’m finally able to share what I created and have been working on for the past few years! Get ready for the best new reality competition you will ever see!!!! Only on Hallmark Plus!” Several of Bennett’s Hallmark co-workers commented on the post and congratulated him. “YESSSSSSS!!!!! ????????,” Rachael Leigh Cook wrote. Fellow Hallmark hunk Andrew Walker added: “The world is now a better place?.” Bennett’s husband, Jaymes Vaughan, also commented on the post, writing: “SO SO PROUD OF YOU BABY. I can not wait for everybody to see these! You did it!!”
Who are the judges of Finding Mr. Christmas?
Melissa Peterman will serve as a judge on Finding Mr. Christmas, alongside Bennett. The actress is best known for starring as Barbra Jean Hart on Reba McEntire’s sitcom Reba, but she recently joined the Hallmark network and has since appeared in Haul Out the Holly, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up and A Gingerbread Romance.
Peterman shared a photo of herself and Bennett on the TCA red carpet, captioned: “So excited to be a part of @findingmrchristmas coming this holiday season to Hallmark Plus!!! I adore @jonathandbennett and I can’t wait for you to see this adventure unfold!!”
In addition to Peterman and Bennett, several other Hallmark stars will appear as guest judges throughout the season, although the names of these actors have yet to be announced.
When does Finding Mr. Christmas premiere?
Our first-ever reality competition series #FindingMrChristmas is streaming this Nov on #HallmarkPlus! #JonathanBennett is Executive Producer & host as 10 promising @Hallmark “hunks” will live together and compete against one another for the lead role in an upcoming original… pic.twitter.com/Pv91ZBc9My
— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) July 11, 2024
An exact premiere date has not been announced, but Finding Mr. Christmas is expected to premiere this fall on the network’s revamped streaming platform, Hallmark+, which launches in mid-September. The winner will begin production on an undisclosed Christmas movie this summer, which will premiere in late 2024 as part of Hallmark’s annual Countdown to Christmas event.
For more on Hallmark, check out the network’s 2024 movie lineup in the gallery below.
